Self-seating root forceps



p 1969 w. J. SEDWICK 3,439,423

SELF-SEATING ROOT FORCEPS Filed Aug. 28, 1967 I3 Kill I F'Gfl |8 FIG 3 INVENTOR. WALLACE J. SEDWICK D.D.S.

United States Patent 3,439,423 SELF-SEATING ROOT FORCEPS Wallace J. Sedwick, 1019 Conewango Ave., Warren, Pa. 16365 Filed Aug. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 663,770 Int. Cl. A61c 3/14 US. Cl. 32--62 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention involves a root forceps and elevators for use as a dental instrument. The forceps has a first beak attached to a stem. The first beak is curved and terminates in a point that is adapted to slide down the side of a tooth. An impact device is slidably supported on the stem and it will impact on the beak to drive the point of the beak along a tooth root. A second beak is pivotally connected to the first beak, and a bolt extends through the two beaks to force them together and lock them to the root of a tooth after the beak points have been driven into place.

This invention relates to dental tools and, more particularly, to the type of dental tools known as root forceps and elevators.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a root forceps which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and simple and eificient to use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a root elevator which may be driven down beside a tooth and root and displaced the root, then rotated or otherwise manipulated to remove the root.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the forceps according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the second beak shown removed from the tool.

FIG. 3 shows a wrench suitable for tightening the screw in the tool shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the invention.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the root forceps are shown generally at having a first beak 11 and a second beak 12 with an adjusting turning bolt 13 which threadably engages a threaded hole in the beak 12 and has a head which overlies the beak 11. The beaks are swingably held together by a joining bolt 14 and adjusting bolt 15 is used to form a limit stop to limit the movement of the beaks toward each other. A stop 16 is integrally fixed to the stem 19 and a percussion or impact weight 17 is slidably received on the stem 19. The tightening wrench 18 may be engaged as shown in FIG. 1 to tighten the adjusting bolt 13 when the noncircular part on the screw is received in the wrench opening 24. The stem has a stop 20 on its upp r end to prevent the percussion weight from sliding ofi the stem 19. The threaded opening for receiving the threaded part of the bolt 13 is indicated at 21 and a threaded opening for receiving the bolt 15 is shown at 22, while the opening for receiving the bolt 14 is indicated as 23.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tool is indicated generally at 110, having a beak 111 terminating in a curved point 118. The handle 112 is slidably received on the stern 114 which is in the form of a square shaft so that the handle is non-rotatable on it. A stop nut 113 is attached to the upper end of the stem. The sidelock 115 is pivoted to the handle at 130 and it has a detent fitting 131 that may be engaged in the notch 117 to hold the handle 11.2 against up and down sliding on stem 114. The lock 115 may be swung laterally to prevent the detent 131 from looking into the notch 117 so that the impact member may be moved up and down and used as a hammer. A stop 116 is fixed to the stem against which the impact member 112 may impact. There are notches 117 formed in the handle to accommodate the detent 131 of the sidelock. The point 118 may be driven down beside the root 119 which is shown in position in the bone 120 of a patient.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, screw 15 can be turned and loosened or tightened to allow the forceps to be set in open position. The point at 21 is provided to close the beaks and grip the roots when the beaks are set to proper size. The stem 19 can then be gripped by the dentist to lift the forceps and by tapping the impact member 17 on the stop 16, the beaks can be driven down the edge of the root. When both beaks are set below the edge of the root, the bolt 15 may be disengaged. Then by turning the turning bolt 13 and by continuing the tapping with the impact member 17, the beak will follow the contour of the root. The wrench 18 may then be engaged on the turning bolt 13 for extra power in tightening it. When the wrench is indicated as curved, so that when it is pulled toward the stem 19, the action of a clawhammer results and this further tightens and breaks the root and gives the operator a firmer grip on the root.

The above procedure greatly simplifies the removal of very stubborn roots. The safety factor is also much improved because there can be no slipping and the manipulation of the instrument is much easier than any existing method.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the handle 112 acts as the impact member and it can be combined with the stem so that in effect a hammer and a chisel results. When the lock 115 is removed from the groove 117, the handle may slide up and down and give a hammer action. When the tip of the beak is forced down around the edge of the tooth into the bone, the tooth root may be driven out of position.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A dental forceps comprising:

a first beak having a curved end terminating in a point,

a stem attached to said beak,

a stop on said stem,

an impact member slidably supported on said stem and adapted to impact on said stop for forcing said beak down the side of a tooth,

a second beak,

means swingably attaching said second beak to said first beak,

said second beak having a portion curved toward said first beak and terminating in a point adapted to en- 3 4 gage the side of a tooth opposite said point of said and means is provided for locking said impact member first beak. against sliding on said stem. 2. The forceps recited in claim 1 wherein an ad usting 5 The forceps recited in claim 2 wherein a Second bolt extends through said second beak at a position spaced from said point of said second beak, said bolt being adapted to engage said first beak for clamping said 5 s j g ifii ada ted to Unit the mo me t of d beaks together on a tooth. g P 1 n 3. The forceps recited in claim 1 wherein: Pomts toward each Othersaid bolt engages said first beak and has a head overlying said second beak and a wrench, said forceps 10 References Cited being adapted to have a wrench having a curved UNITED STATES PATENTS handle which may be swung toward said stem wherebolt threadably engages said second beak and engages by said head is pulled away from said beak and said 938,640 11/1909 3243 first beak is forced toward said second beak there- 213371971 12/1943 Cavlg11a 3240 by gripping a tooth root. 15 2,776,490 1/ 1957 Carfagnl 3240 4. The forceps recited in claim 1 wherein: 3,029,514 4/1962 Reiter 32-62 said stem is non-circular in cross section and said impact member has a complimentary shaped opening ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner. receiving said stem, 

